William Chapman Identified as Victim of Yorkshire Wildlife Park Tiger Attack

William Chapman is the man who was killed by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster on Saturday, 10 October. This was confirmed by police and the BBC, according to consistent reports. Chapman was reportedly in his early 20s and had come to the wildlife park alone.

What is known about the incident?

According to Nova Intel and Breaking911, Chapman entered the enclosure of the tiger Altai. He reportedly filmed himself inside the enclosure and posted the video just moments before the attack. According to witnesses, visitors had tried to stop him from entering the enclosure.

The attack proved fatal. Police have not yet released further details about exactly how events unfolded. There is also no official information on why Chapman entered the enclosure.

Who was William Chapman?

According to Sky News and BBC News, the family has issued a public statement. In it, they pay tribute to Chapman as a “bright, warm and engaging young man”. According to Sky News, the family also said that Chapman had been a child actor.

According to Sky News, the statement also says that Chapman had suffered from a “significant mental illness”. The family reportedly had not initially wanted his name to be made public.

What have police said about his condition?

Police described Chapman only as “vulnerable”. The force has not elaborated on what exactly it means by that.

After the incident, claims circulated on social media that Chapman had been autistic. These claims reportedly came from witnesses and comments and have not been confirmed by any official source. Police have not commented on the matter.

What will happen to Altai the tiger?

According to the park, the tiger was unharmed and will not be put down. As we reported on 12 October 2026, the park had already announced this decision following the attack; Yorkshire Wildlife Park remained closed for a third day, according to BBC News.

The park's decision to spare Altai has sparked a debate online. While some consider the decision to be the right one, others criticise that the animal is being valued more highly than the young man's life. The park has not yet publicly responded to this criticism.

What happens next?

Questions remain, above all about the circumstances under which Chapman was able to get into the enclosure. The park in Doncaster has not yet provided any information on this. Police have also not released any further details about their investigation.

The family has reportedly asked to be allowed to grieve in peace. At the same time, they expressed the hope that the speculation about Chapman's health will now come to an end.